Detonator-fuse



J. B. SEMPLE.

DETONATOR FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.3I, I913.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

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FIEEI- JOHN SEMPLE, 0F SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

DETONATOR-FUSE.

T 0 all whom it mag] concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. SEMPLE, residing at Sewickley, in the county of Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania, a. citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Detonator-Fuses, of' which improvements the following is a specification.

' liiy invention relates to detonating fuses for shells, and its objects are simplicity of structure and economy of space.

In Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 1,172,636 and 1,172,637, granted me February 22, 1916, I have shown and de scribed, in alternate specific forms, a detonating fuse for a high-explosive projectile including in its structure a percussion cap, a detonator, and a body of high explosive;

a fiashway leads from percussion cap to detonator, and a path of detonation transmission leads from detonator to the body of high explosive; in the path of detonation transmission last mentioned is arranged an interrupter which, prior to the firing of the projectile, prevents transmission of the detonating impulse, but which in consequence of firing moves to make continuous the theretofore interrupted path, that the detonation impulse may at the intended time the body of high explosive.

In the detonating fuse of these earlier patents mentioned the percussion cap is fired by the relative movement of two members, comonly spoken of as the hammer member (or plunger and the anvil member-a relative movement due to inertia, when the projectile after being fired makes impact. The path of detonation transmission extends through a block of metal of considerable thickness and this path is made continuous while the projectile is in flight by the movement of a centrifugal bolt along a runway in the block of metal referred to.

In the fuse of my present invention the same movement of parts by which the firing of the percussion cap is accomplished accomplishes also the making continuous of the path of detonation transmission. In consequence, the structure is simplified (and that is in itself a matter of advantage), and dimensions may be diminished. This is advantageous not merely because there is savingin weight and in cost, but, more important by far, because there is saving in space, so that the fuse structure occupies a minimum space and the permissible size of the Specification of Letters Patent.

pass to Patented Apr. 6, 192G.

Application filed December 31, 1918. Serial No. 269,083.

burster charge is correspondingingly increased. This is of partlcular importance in small shells. I

In an application for Letters Patent of the United States filed August 2, 1918, Serial No. 248,022 (now held allowable), I have described and claimed a detonator charge so constituted that, in comparison with other detonators, it may be made of very small bulk. I prefer to employ in the fuse of my present invention such a detonator; thus the structure is reduced to the smallest dimensions thus far attained in this art.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawings show in medial longitudinal section three alternate specific embodiments of my present invention. Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional views of parts of the fuse of Fig. 3, the plane of section being at right angles to that of Fig. 3 and the relatively movable parts being shown in the two figures in their alternate positions.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the detonating fuse there shown is a base fuse, superficially of familiar appearance. Within the stock 1, in a suitable bore for lon itudinal traverse, is arranged a two-part tellascopic plunger 2, 3. Before the projectile is fired this plunger in the extended position shown occupies the entire length of the bore. When the proj ectile is fired the forwardly arranged part 3, which is a split collar, sets back by inertia, expands, and telescopes rearwardly upon the part 2; and thereafter the collapsed members, locked together by friction, function as a unit. When the projectile strikes and its speed is arrested this collapsed and now unitary plunger drives forward by inertia and effects the firing of the percussion cap.

Thedetonator and the path of transmission are shown at d e e and it will be seen that they are contained partly in member 2,

jumped, the su sequent driving forward of actual and immediate contact. They the unified parts 2, 3 will to all intents and purposes reestablish continuity, even though the two portions e, 6 should not come intfi w1 at least come so closely together that the detonation impulse will jump the interval.

The proper establishment of communication is dependent, as will be observed, on the proper alinement of the movable parts, and to this end a pin-and-slot engagement is shown at 6 between members 2 and 3,

and again at 9'between member 3 and the stationary portion of the structure.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the fuse there shown will be seen to be a point fuse, firin on contact. Normally-that is to say, until the time of firingthe plunger is held inremote, inoperative position by a French ribbon 9, interposed between a flange on the plungerand the fuse stock. This French ribbon is a spiral of flexible material (ordinarily metal) coiled about the body of the plunger; as the projectile flies, rotating as it flies, this ribbon in response to centrifugal force uncoils and comes away,

leaving the plunger armedthat is to say,

free of restraint and ready to act. Thereafter, during the further flight, a spring 10 holds the plunger inactive; but when the projectile strikes on its point the plunger,

protruding as it does at the point of the projectile, isdriven back against the weak tension'ef the spring and the cap on impinging on the pin 8 is fired.

The path of detonation transmission d, c is arranged, partly in the plunger, partly in the immovable part of the structure. Normally, as shown in the drawing, this path is discontinuous, and it will be understood that it becomes continuous only on contact and by the movement of parts which efl'ects also the firing of the percussion cap. A pinand-slot engagement indicated at 6 holds the movable part alined in the stationary part.

Fig. 3 shows again a base fuse, firing on impact; the plunger carries the firing-pin 8, and carries it normally in unarmed position (of. Fig. i). In response to centrifual force due to the rotationof the proectile the firing-pin is first released and then brought to armed position (of. Fig. 5). Thereafter on impact the plunger drives forward, and the extended pin impinges upon and' fires the percussion cap. Spring 10 serves to hold the plunger retracted until under the heavy strain of impact its tension is overcome and the plunger drives forward.

The path of detonation transmission may convenlently be arranged in part in the body of theswinging firing pin 8 (at f) and in that case the path becomes continuous through the firing-pin only when the firingpin moves to armed position. Furthermore, as is shown in Fig. 3, a gap in the path of detonation transmission is maintained so long as the plunger remains in the retracted inactive position shown; it is only on impact and" on the driving forward of the plunger to fire the percussion-cap that this gap is closed and the path of detonation complete from detonator to burster charge. As in the cases already described alinement of the moving plunger within the fuse is insured by the pin-and-slot engagement indicated at 6*.

What has been said above in connection with the form shown in Fig. 1 about the substantial continuity of the path of detonation transmission at the time of detonation applies in substance to the form shown in lomparing the three figures, it will be observed that the invention may be applied, either to a base fuse (Figs. 1 and 3). or to a point fuse (Fig. 2); that firin -pin percussion cap may be arranged as referred, the plunger may carry the cap igs. 1 and 2) or it may carry the -=firing-pin (Fig. 3),-and to either arrangement my invention is applicable. And in this connection F'ball attention to the flash-way 11 (Fig. 3) formed in the fuse body, through which the flash from the cap may pass to impin e on the detonator borne in the pluner, n each case it will however be observed. that the detonator is borne by the plunger; that normally it-is isolated from the burster-charge; that it is contained in a chamber adapted to relieve the stress of and accidental premature explosion of the det-' onator. And finally it w ll be observed that in each case-the path of detonation transmission is completed on, and only on, the cap-firing traverse of the plunger. This in the case of the fuse of Figs. 1 and 3, occurs on impact, when the sudden arrest of speed of the flying projectile causing the plunger to drive forward under inertia; it occurs in the case of Fig. 2 when the projectile strikes on its point and the protruding plunger is driven inward.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a detonating fuse a cap-firing plunger functioning on impact and a path of detonation transmission preliminarily incomplete and completed only by the traverse of said plunger on impact, substantially as described.

are brought to the relative positions defined above.

4. In a detonating fuse for shells the combination of a stock, a cap-firing plunger movable within the stock said plunger consisting of a plurality of parts brought to relative positions of operation by forces released on explosion of the propelling charge and movable as an entity to elfect cap-firing, and a path of detonation transmission formed in said parts andin said stock and made continuous through the plunger parts when said parts are brought to the relative positions defined above, and made continuous from plunger to stock by the cap-firing traverse ,of said plunger.

5. In "a detonating fuse for shells a capfiring plunger movable in a runway, centrifugally moving means for preparing the plunger for service, and a path of detonation transmission made continuous by the cap-firing movement of the plunger in its runway.

6. In a detonating fuse for shells, a stock, a cap-firing. plunger movable in said stock, centrifugally removable means for holding said plunger in safety position, and a path of detonation-transmission made continuous on the cap-firing traverse of said plunger.

7. In a detonating fuse for shells a capfiring plunger functioning on contact and a path of detonation transmission normally discontinuous and made continuous on the functioning of said plunger.

8. In a detonating fuse for shells a capfiring plunger armed by inertia through the operation of forces released on the explosion of the propelling charge and a path of detonation transmission made continuous on the cap-firing traverse of said plunger.

9. In a detonating fuse the combination of a stock, a plunger having cap-firing traverse in said stock, a detonator, a path of detonation transmission formed in part in said plunger and in. part in said stock, said path preliminarily discontinuous and made continuous on the cap-firing traverse of said plunger.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN B. SEMIPLE. Witnesses BAYARD H. GHRIBTY, FRANCIS, J. ToMAssoN. 

